Int office



y 8,- c. MENARD 2,248,277

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 3, 1940 Y INVENTOR (ha/i0; Menard ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 tzi? esrear OFFICE.

9 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to an apparatus designed for dispensing liquids of all kinds but which is especially adapted for the dispensing of paint, ink, etc.

The object of my invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus having many advantages and particularly such as to be readily accessible for the utilization of the liquid from substantially all directions and which will provide a constant level of the liquid at all times. Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character which is strong in construction and which, because of its shape, may be readily packed in cases containing a plurality of containers with no damage to the parts thereof in shipment. Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description of the same hereinafter.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms for the purpose of illustration I have shown only one form thereof in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is vertical section of an apparatus made in accordance with my invention, partly in elevation; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof.

In the drawing I have shown a reservoir i hav .ing a screw-threaded filling tube 2 thereon adapted to be closed with a screw-threaded cap 3. The reservoir I has therein a body of liquid 4, such, for example, as paint, which is adapted to be drawn ofi by a tube 5 having therein a hand valve Ii provided with a transverse rotatable port I operated by a handle 8 attached to the valve 6, the other end of the valve being screw-threaded and held in place by a nut 8a and a washer 8b. The valve 5 is located in a valve casing 9 secured to the tube 5. The two ends of the valve casing Q terminate in and are secured to cylindrically shaped or bowed extension walls IS! and II secured to the reservoir I. The top of the extension formed by the cylindrically shaped walls It] and I i is closed by a flat inclined plate I2 secured to the top of the reservoir I and the bottom of said extension is closed by a horizontal flat plate i3 fastened to the bottom of said reservoir I. The liquid from the valve passes therefrom through a tube Hi to a small well I5 secured to said walls it and II and plates I2 and IS, the bottom of said well I5 being on the same level with the bottom of the reservoir I and the plate I3. The "said well I5, furthermore, has a conical top it ending in a screw-threaded tube II adapted to be closed by a screw-threaded cap I8. From the side of the well I5 an inclined tube I9 leads upwardly from the body of liquid from the well I5 to the vacuum space formed in the. top of the reservoir I above the liquid therein.

In the operation'of the apparatus, in order to fili the same the valve 6 is first closed and, the cap 3 being removed, the liquid, for instance paint, is poured into the reservoir I up to a point below the level of the upper end of the inclined tube iii. The cap is then replaced so as to make the reservoir I air-tight and the valve 6 is then opened so that the liquid flows through the tubes ii and HI into the well I5 until the liquid closes the lower end of the inclined tube IS. A constant level of liquid is thus established in the ell iii, the liquid in the latter being replenished as it is used whenever the level of the liquid therein falls below the lower end of the tube I9. Due to the location of the well I51 away from the reservoir I and the inclined position of the plate E2, the well is accessible from all directions, for the paint brushes, etc, to be inserted therein. Very little evaporation of the liquid can take place owing to the cap 3 being closed and as the cap I8 may be applied to the well I5 to make the same air-tight when not in use. Furthermore, if desired at any time to work with a lower level of the liquid or a given quantity thereof in the well it the valve 6 can be closed until the desired level of the liquid is reached or all of the contents of the well has been used up, after which the valve 5 can be opened, as desired. Furthermore, in packing the devices for shipment, with or without the presence of the liquid therein, a plurality of the same may be readily packed in a particular case for shipment without danger of damage to the valve 6 and handle 8 as the said handle is located in the concavity of the wall I9 and the tubes 5, I4 and I9 as well as the valve ii are protected from damage by the extension formed by the concave walls I0 and I I which, by their shape, are protected from being damaged by contact with neighboring objects.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well located at a distance therefrom, a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, and a downwardly inclined pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the well.

2. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well located at a distance therefrom, a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, a downwardly inclined pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the well.

3. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well located at a distance therefrom, a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, a downwardly inclined pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the well, said valve having a valve casing, the ends of which are mounted in the side walls respectively of said enclosure.

4. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well located at a distance therefrom, a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, a downwardly inclined pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the well, said valve having a valve casing, the ends of which are mounted in the side walls respectively of said enclosure, and a valve handle extending outside of the adjacent side wall thereof.

5. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well located at a distance therefrom, a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, a downwardly inclined pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the well, the side walls of the enclosure being inwardly bowed.

6. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the well, said valve having a valve casing, the ends of which are mounted in the side walls respectively of said enclosure, the side walls of the enclosure being inwardly bowed.

7. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well located at a distance therefrom, a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, a pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the Well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the well, said valve having a valve casing, the ends of which are mounted in the side walls respectively of said enclosure, and a Valve handle extending outside of an adjacent side wall thereof, the side walls of the enclosure being inwardly bowed.

8. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing well located at a distance therefrom, a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, a downwardly inclined pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the Well, said enclosure comprising an upper plate substantially parallel to the downwardly inclined pipe and a horizontal bottom plate.

9. In combination, a reservoir, a dispensing Well located at a distance therefrom,a valved pipe connecting the lower portions of the reservoir and well, a downwardly inclined pipe leading from the upper portion of the reservoir to the upper portion of the well, and an enclosure for said pipes extending from the reservoir to the well, said enclosure comprising an upper plate substantially parallel to the downwardly inclined pipe, a horizontal bottom plate and inwardly bowed side walls.

CHARLES MENARD. 

